China's PLA will be 'completely capable' to attack Taipei by 2025, says Taiwan's Minister

China's People Liberation Army (PLA) will be well-prepared to inve Taiwan by 2025 in order to recapture island, said Taiwanese Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-chang. dressing virtual seminar titled 'Taiwan: Is it key to continuing global order' -- organised by Democracy Forum [TDF],  Kuo-chang ted that given ongoing aggression displayed by PLA, including infringing Taiwan Air Defence Identification Zone (IZ) and conducting naval drills along Taiwan Strait, China will acquire "complete capability" to storm island within two years.

Referring to Beijing's rhetorical claims over Taiwan under 'One-China Policy,' Kuo-chang stressed increasing Chinese military drills and air incursions into Taiwanese air. He ded situation currently is "most dangerous" compared to past 40 years. TDF chief Lord Bruce too cited former US Indo-Pacific miral Phil Davidson, saying that Beijing may "manifest an attack on Taiwan in next six years."

tably, prediction comes after Central Investigation ncy (CIA) chief Bill Burns said China is "taking lessons" from Russia-Ukraine war about "how and when" it must inve Taiwan. Speaking at Aspen Security Forum last week, director ted that Moscow's invasion is affecting Beijing's calculations, upping risks for Taipei. Burns furr warned that given current geopolitical landscape and Beijing's growing influence in South East Asian region, Chinese President Xi Jinping could launch an incursion on Taiwan following a key meeting among Communist Party members later this year.

Taiwan is significant to global order for its 'tre, tech & democratic values'

Kuo-chang furr highlighted that Taiwan is significant to global order t in terms of its tre, techlogy, and invation, but also in core democratic values. Taiwan is currently dominating global semiconductor chip market with large-scale manufacturing of most vanced products. According to Bruce, a potential attack by China threatens vulnerable supply chains, although threat is "only marginal."

Biden to call Xi amid new tensions over US lawmaker's visit

TDF convention came amid contentious pressure on Washington over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which China sees as a major breach of American leership's  commitment to 'One-China Policy.' Under this policy, Beijing considered self-ruling Taiwan a part of China's mainland, and intended to take over "by force, if necessary".

While a growing number of GOP members are in favour of Pelosi's trip, US President Joe Biden, reportedly, has vised top US lawmaker against embarking on journey, given growing threats of air incursions during her visit. Meanwhile, Biden last week bluntly anunced that he is expecting a telephone call with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping by end of this week once he is recovered from COVID-19.

(Im: AP)